Lubricating means



May Z, 1942` J. w. MaccLATcHlE l 2,282,488

LUBRICATING MEANS j' INVENTOR.

JOHN w. MACCLATCHIE BY Mmmm@ ATTORNEY.

12, 1942. w. 'MaccLATcHH-r LUBRICATING MEANS Filed Aug. 8, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR.

W. H.m m @MA m M w.. Nw H O JW Y. B

Patented forms.l

2,282,488 Lnnnrca'rnvc MEANS .lohn W. MacClatclxie, Los Angeles, Calif.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Mereu-Nordstrom v ValveCompany,-Pittsburgh, Pa., afoorporation oi Delaware Application August8, 1938, Serial No. 223,676

' 4 claims. (ci. 1st-10s) the lubricant under normalv high pressureoperating conditions.

In certainy' articles, for example, plug valves,.a ball check valve'isprovidedat the lower end of the lubricant chamber which is designed toallow vthe replenishment 'of the lubricant during such conditions. The'diiiicu'lty is that duringnormal high pressure operating conditions'theball check valve becomes contaminated with sand, grit, etc.,

' and therefore fails .to effect a' seal, thereby permitting thelubricant and other material to es` cape through the ball checkvalve. f

y An vobject of this invention is to provide a. lubricating means forvalves, pumps, bearings, and other articles having surfaces requiringlubrication under high pressure operating conditions by means of whichthe lubricant in the valve or other article', may be absolutely,positively, and deiinitely sealed ofi from the lubricantchamber duringnormal high pressure operating -conditions so that the lubricant in thelubricant chamber may be replenished while the valve or other' l articleis in normal operating service.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple but efiicientmeans for positively and absolutely preventing. the. escape of lubricanti from a valve, pump, bearing, or other article during normal highpressure operating conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lubricating means forvalves, pumps, bearings and other articles having surfaces requiringlubrication under high pressure operating conditions without interferingin any mannerwhatsoever with the operation of the device. Y My inventionhas many other objects, ladvantages, and features, some of which, withthe foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following Referring'tothe drawings: v,

Fig. 1 is -a side elevation of a plug valve embodying the features yoi?the invention, partly broken away in axial section.

Fig. 2 is an'enlarged fragmentary section of the lubricating means,showing the lubricating means in open position. i

Fig. `3 is a section similar .to Fig. 2, showingthe lubricating means inclosed position.

Fig. 4 is a top view withy both the lubricaiing I means and the plugvalve in open position.

5 is a top view with both the' lubricating means and the plug valve inclosed position.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation -i of a di'ierent type of plugvalve embodyingtheffeatures` of the invention, partly broken away in axial section. YThe invention is applicable to any article hav- .ing surfaces requiringlubrication under .high

pressure operating conditions, for example, a plug valve.

The ping valvesnown in Figs. 1 5 incmsive, Vcomprises a valve casing Ilhaving a iluid passageway l2 and' transverse opening I3 with a, valveplug I 4 rotatable in opening liand having a transverse hole ,l5 adaptedfor alinement or non-,alinement with passagewayiz when the plusdescription where I shall outline certain forms of 4 drawingsI haveshown certain formsof my in4 ventionl as applied to plug valves, but itis to be understood that I do not limit myself to such forms, since theinvention, as expressed in the claims, may be embodied lin a largeplurality of is rotated.v The peripheral surfaces of plug I4 and openingI3 cooperate to denne a seating surface for the plug.V

A means cooperates vwith casing Il for retain- I ing the plug inoperative assembly, -and in the present instance thismeans is shown as acap I6 adapted to be screwed into a threaded end Il of the transverseopening I3 and having a head lIii adapted for engagementby a suitabletool.

The opposite end of the transverse opening I3 is closed by the bodyofthevalve casing. The plug I4 is provided withmeans for rotating theplug', which may comprisea stem I9 integral with the plug andyprojecting through theclosure cap IB and having a head 20 adapted 'forengagement bya suitable tool. 4

The-valve plug'is limited toa quarter turn. As an instance of thisarrangement a. collar 2| is mounted on the plug 4stem I9 by means of aset screw 22 and is provided withv anarm 23 -which is adapted forlimited movement between hthe stops 24 and 26 which are secured to thevalve "casing".

55 bearing races 2l. and 29.

The cap I6 is counterbored at its inner end as shown at 23,' and a ballrace surrounds plus stem I9 andis podtloned betweencounterbore 2l andthe end of valve plug I4, the ball race being shownas comprising` 21,journaled between Airanti-frictional bear-1 threads 43.

ing is thus provided between cap I Iiand plug I4 when the caphas beenscrewed into the threaded end I1 of the opening |3 for seating the valveplug relative to the bearing surface of- The cylinder 34 is providedwith a tapered seat-4 ing surface 35, the angle of said seating surfaceof said cylinder to the vertical axis of the plug being no greater, andpreferably appreciably smaller, rthan the angle formed by the taperedseat 32 of the bore 3| to said axis. This is in cyunder 34 is turned tothe right by means .or the hexagonal nut 40 until the stop pin 43 isengaged, thereby raising the cylinder 34 from order to 'provide adefinite, absolute, and positive shut-off or seal when the cylinder 34is in' closed position.

The cylinder 34 thus provides a lubricant chamber 31. An opening 33 isprovided through the tapered seating surface 33 of the cylinder 34 whichopening is located as farfrom the center of the cylinder as convenient.

'Ihe cylinder 34 is provided with a hexagonal nut 40 part of which iscut away as at 4| and 42. YA stop pin 43 is threaded into the upper endof the plug stem within the periphery of the hexagonal nut 40 to limitthe movement of th'e cylinder 34 between closed and a limited openposition.

The cylinder 34 is also provided with righthanded internal threads 44 toaccommodate a pressure screw 45 which is provided with similar Annulargrooves 41 are provided at the seating surface of the valve.A and theseannular grooves are preferably spaced longitudinally ofthe valve ofwhich forms a tapered seat 5|.

52 through the casing connects the upper anaxial bore 30, the bore 48.and the longitudinal groove 49 into the annular grooves 41.

After suicient lubricant has been forced into said annular grooves 41,the cylinder 34 is again turned to the left into' closed position, andis adapted to remain in said position during normal operatingconditions.

The valve is then ready for use, the stem I 3 being rotated to open orclose the valve by alining or non-alining hole I5 with the passagewayI2. The valve may be conveniently lubricated and the lubricantreplenished during normal high pressure operating conditions at will,without interfering in any manner whatsoever with the operation of thevalve.

In Figure 6. Ihave illustrated the features of my invention as appliedin a different manner to a plug valve. -In this example, a valve casingII-A is provided with a bore 50, the lower end A passageway nular groove41 with the bore 50, near the periphery of said bore. The upper end ofthe bore 53 is provided with left-handed threads 53 into which alubricant cylinder 54 provided with like at opposite sides of thetransverse hole I5, and

in the Vpresent; example are formed in the bearing surface of the plugrather than in the cooperating bearing surface of the bore I3. Thegrooves 41 are connected to the lubricant chamber 31 in the plug stem I3 by means of axial bore 30, a bore 48, and a longitudinal groove 45.

In assembling the parts, the valve plug being withdrawn from casing u,the bearing :1 -n

25 is mounted on plug I4 and capfI is mounted on bearing ring 23. Thecap is then screwed into ypressure screw maybe removed and new lubricantin the form of conventional sticks or otherwise inserted in thelubricant chamber 31 and the pressure screw 45 replaced. At all timesduring re-charging the lubricant in the plug valve below the lubricantchamber 31 is positively and. absolutely prevented from escaping.

In order to replenish the lubricant in the grooves 41 between the plugand the casing, the

seated in its l left-handed threads 55 is adapted to be threaded.

In order to provide anabsolute and positive seal between the lubricantcylinder 54 and the tapere in close position-the lubricant cylinder isprovided with a tapered seating surface 55, the angle of said seatingsurface to the axis of the bore being no greater, and preferablysomewhat smaller, than the angle formed by the seat 5I to said axis. Thecenter of the lower end of the lubricant cylinder 54 is provided with anopening 51.

The lubricant cylinder 54 is provided with a hexagonal nut 40 part ofwhich is cut away. A stop pin 43 is threaded into thecasing II withinthe periphery of said nut 43 in order to limit the movement of thecylinder, 54 between closed and alimited open position. provided withright-handed internal threads 44 to :accommodate a pressure screw 45which is provided with similar threads 45.

'I'he construction of the remainder of the valve, the assembly, and theoperation of said valve are deemed to be apparent from the -descriptionset.

lorth herein in connection with the form of the invention-shown inlFigs.1-5 inclusive and will vtherefore not be set forth, herein, except asfollows: l

When the cylinder-54 is turned to the left as far as possible by meansof the hexagonal nut 4 0, the tapered seating surface 5l of the cylinder54 is forced into sealing engagement with the tapered seat 5| of thebore 53. thereby effecting an absolute, denite andv positiveseal betweenthe lubricant cylinder 54 andthe seating surfaces between the plug andthe casing.

When the cylinder 54 is turned to the right by means of the hexagonalnut 40 until the4 stop pin 43 is engaged, the seating surface-55' israised from the seat 5|. and lubricant may be forced through saidopening, the passageway 52, the longitudinal groove 49, into the annulargrooves d1.

seat 5| of the'bore when the cylinder is The cylinder 54 ls also.

From the foregoing description taken in con-l acca-ias neotion with theaccompanying drawings, the uses, advantages, and operation of thelubricating container for forcing lubricant from said lubrimeans-will bereadily understood by those skilled exposed to fluid at high pressureand for positively preventing escape of uid from said zone comprising ahousing enclosing said zone, a bore extending into said housing from theouter surface thereof and having Aa tapered seat at its inner end, apassageway leading from said bore to said zone, a lubricant containerthreaded for axial movement within said bore and having its inner end inthe form of a tapered seating surface to cooperate with said taperedseat upon inward axial movement of said lubricant container to provide apositive seal between said passageway and said bore and to opencommunication between said bore and said passageway upon outward axialmovement of said lubricant container, an aperture in said lubricantcontainer, and a plunger threaded for advancement in said lubricantcontainer for forcing lubricant from said lubricant container into saidbore and through said passageway to said zone while said bore ls in opencommunication with said passageway, said plunger `being threaded intosaid lubricant container in reverse direction relative to the threadingof said lubricant container into said bore.

2. Apparatus for supplying lubricant to a zone exposed to iiuid at highpressure and for positively preventing escape of uid from said zonecomprising a housing enclosing said zone, a bore extending'into saidhousing from the outer surface thereof and terminating at its inner endin a tapered seat, a passageway leading from said bore to said zone, alulh'lcant container threaded for axial movement within said bore, anaperture in said lubricant container, theinner end of said lubricantcontainer'being in the form of a tapered seating surface to cooperatewith said tapered .seat upon inward axial movement of said lubricantcontainer to provide a positive seal between said passageway and saidapertire and to open communication between said aperture 'and saidpassageway upon outward axial movement of said lubricant container, anda plunger threaded for advancement into said lubricant cant containerthrough said aperture and through said passageway to said zone whilesaid aperture is in open communication with said passageway, saidplunger being threaded into said lubricant container in reversedirection relative to the threading of said bore.

3. ,Apparatus for supplying lubricant to a zone exposed to iiuid at highpressure and for positively preventing escape of iiuid from said zonelubricant container into said comprising a housing enclosing said zone,a bore extending into said housing from the outer surface thereof andhaving a tapered seat at its inner end, a. passageway leading from saidbore to said zone, a lubricant container threaded for axial movementwithin said bore and having its inner end in the form of a taperedseating surface to cooperate with said ltapered seat upon inward axialmovement of said lubricant container to provide a positive seal betweensaid passageway and said bore and to open communication between saidbore and said passageway upon outward axial movement of said lubricantcontainer, an aperture in said lubricant container, said tapered seatand said tapered seating surface being inclined at diierent angles withrespect to the axis of said bore, and means for forcing lubricant fromsaid lubricant container into said bore and through said passageway tosaid zone while said bore is in open communication with said passageway.

4. Apparatus for supplying lubricant to a zone exposed to fluid at highpressure and for positively'preventing escape of fluid from said zonecomprising a housing enclosing said zone, a bore extending into saidhousing from the outer surface thereof and having a tapered seat at itsinner end, a passageway leading from said bore to said zone, a lubricantcontainer threaded for axial movement within said bore and having itsvinner end in the form of `a tapered seating surface to cocliperate withsaid tapered seat upon inward axial movement of said lubricant containerto provide a positive seal between said passageway and said bore and toopen communication between said bore and said passageway' movement ofsaid lubricant container withv respect to said bore to a predetermineddegree.

JOHN w. MACCLATCHIE.

